My lab has focused on defining the molecular mechanisms and transcriptional pathways that contribute toendocrine tissue development and function. Our approaches are broad, spanning structural biology, biochemistry and genetic mouse models. In the last several years we have worked to understand how the class of NR5A orphan nuclear receptors are regulated by both ligands and post-translational modifications, with a new focuson LRH-1 (NR5A2) because of its impact on human health. My lab recently showed thatphosphoinositides are the highest affinity ligands for both SF-1 and LRH-1.

During the last year, we built two new biologically relevant platforms to carry out biochemical and functionalstudies on human LRH-1 (hLRH-1). Our focus on LRH-1 takes advantage of relevant in vivo and ex-vivo systems. The first uses viral infection of mouse liver to acutely knock-out mLRH-1 and add back hLRH-1. The second acutely knock-out/add back strategy is being done in intestinal organoids by my trainee and colleague, Dr. J. Bayrer (Peds GI Physician). Both biological systems are bearing fruit and illustrate why targeting hLRH-1 isworthwhile in both inflammatory bowel and fatty liver diseases.

In addition to maintaining my active lab, I am the Program Director for the UCSF IRACDA Scholars Program, a NIH/NIGMS K12 grant which promotes diversity in the biomedical sciences.